Against the radical and cultural watershed period of the 1960s, a
new “psychedelic” culture, music, fashion and poster scene formed.
Organized by artist Gary Westford and drawn from his extensive personal collection in celebration of the 50th anniversary of “The Summer of Love,” this exhibition features more than 100 iconic posters, historic photographs, and related ephemera that highlight the development of the “psychedelic” art style. Twenty examples of clothing chart the influence of psychedelia on the worlds of both street and high fashion. The exhibition will also feature a light show by Bill Ham who created the revolutionary swirling backdrops to many legendary rock concerts of the time. This exhibition is accompanied by a variety of lectures, films, and gallery talks, as well as a children’s art camp.

Two small companion exhibitions have been planned as well. The Study
Gallery will be all aglow with the exhibition Turned On!: American
Blacklight Posters, 1967-71, opening May 13 and continuing through July
16. Continue into the Print Study Center for more fun with The 1960s:
Pop and Op Art Prints from the Collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer and
his Family Foundation, opening May 13 and continuing through
October 22. More information and related events

Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and is home to a rich and diverse artistic tradition that includes sculpture, masks, dance ornaments, bark cloth, utensils, and vessels. Many of these objects are used ritualistically in great feasts, exchanges, and dance performances to capture and maintain spiritual power.

Capturing the Power of the Spirit World: Ritual Objects from Northeast Papua New Guinea features a number of objects collected by anthropologist David Eisler in Papua New Guinea in the early 1970s and gifted by him to the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in 2014.

As a special feature, Eisler will give an illustrated lecture on the concept of spiritual power in the art and culture of Papua New Guinea on September 7. Admission to the lecture is complimentary.

This has been organized by Director John Olbrantz and explores how the Pop and Op art movements, that emerged in the 1960s, had a profound influence on the development of psychedelic posters and fashion.

Looking back, the 1960s was a watershed period in American cultural history. The civil rights, women’s liberation, and LGBTQ movements, as well as the sexual revolution and widespread opposition and polarization to the Vietnam War, led to a search for new societal, cultural, and individual identities. Similarly, the 1960s was an equally important and influential decade in the history of twentieth century art, with the rise of Pop art, Op art, Minimalism, Performance art, Conceptual art, and a host of other movements and styles that would ultimately lead to the emergence of post-modern art in the mid-1970s and beyond.

This exhibition has been organized as part of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love,and in conjunction with the "Behind the Beyond: Psychedelic Posters and Fashion in San Francisco, 1966-71" exhibition as well as the "The 60s: Pop and Op Art Prints from the Collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation."